Our Complete Guide to Agaete | the Perfect Base on Gran Canaria

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Agaete – the little village on the North-West of Gran Canaria is a perfect base for everyone who hopes to explore the island on a relaxed, crowd-free pace. This is our detailed guide of Agaete – a town we dearly love. We have been living there for two months during our stay on Gran Canaria with kids. And it was a great experience.

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Canary Islands are a major tourism destination for Europeans, especially during the winter months. The outside temperatures are mild and warm and you can enjoy the sun and the ocean when in Europe it’s rainy and cold.

Many families migrate to the islands during the winter months – the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria being among the favourites for family travel.

We have stayed on Gran Canaria with our kids for over 2 months – from middle of January until the end of March. When we planned our stay it was important for us to have as much local experience as possible. Therefore we have put quite some investigation of finding the perfect base for our family on Gran Canaria.

And we were lucky, because during our research we stumbled upon Agaete. Agaete is a municipality on the North-West of Gran Canaria with a town of Agaete serving as its administrative center.

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Why Agaete is a Great Base for Your Gran Canaria Adventures

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While the South of Gran Canaria caters to the mass tourism and guests compete for beach beds, umbrellas and parking spots at Maspalomas, on the northern part of the island you still can have your peace and quiet.

The town of Agaete is located on the Northern part of Gran Canaria. Across the ocean straight from Agaete is Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

It is this part of Gran Canaria which still can be called authentic. Most of the islands locals living in the area still followi their daily traditions and lifestyle apart from tourism.

With several pretty villages and towns to choose out on the North of Gran Canaria, we found that Agaete is the best base the following reasons:

• The town of Agaete is not large, but also has everything a traveller needs in terms of amenities and rental options.
• Most of the tourists in Agaete stay there over a longer period of time or own property.
• There are plenty of easy to reach activities around Agaete – from hiking to surfing.
• Agaete is located in the entrance to the Valley of Agaete – an incredible National Park with diverse hiking options.
• At the same time Agaete has a an access to the Ocean – the port of Agaete, Puerto de las Nieves. The ocean Promenade is great for families with small children – it is stroller friendly.
• Agaete is well connected in terms of roads and public transport.

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Things to Do in Agaete

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Explore The Old Town of Agaete

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The old town of Agaete might seem quite small when you drive or walk through it’s narrow streets for the first time. But actually it has plenty to discover and explore. These are our favorite options to get you started:

Visit the Huerto de Las Flores – the Botanical Garden of Agaete

The Botanical gardens of Agaete is located right off the edge of the town center. It is relatively small, but if you are traveling with kids, you can easily spend hours there. The history of the Huerto de las Flores, which literally means ‘Flower Garden’ goes back to the 19th century. For a small entrance fee you can navigate through the shadowy paths among over 100 tropical species, most of which are not native Canarian. It’s a great place for hiding yourself from the burning Canarian sun.

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Stroll Along Calle Concepción – Agaete Liveliest Street

Calle Concepcion is where the local life of the town is at it’s busiest. Especially during the early morning hours, when locals are having ‘fast’ coffee and breakfast at a corner bakery or waiting for a bus. Main holidays and town events are also taking place on the Calle Concepcion – somewhere between Plaza Thomas Moralez and Plaza de Constucion.

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Peak Inside the Iglesia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

The main church in Agaete is located right in the middle of the town. This is where towns religious ceremonies take place – marriages, baptism and mess. After mess times there is plenty of chit chat happening on the street. As we said – Agaete is a great way to see the local life on Gran Canaria.

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Check out the Biblioteca Municipal de Agaete Gran Canaria

The Municipal Library of Agaete is a lovely building filled with a good choice of book. Most of them are on Spanish, but there is a decent choice on other languages. The library is great for a lazy rainy afternoon or if you need to check your E-mails. The kids section at Biblioteca Municipal de Agaete is great as well!

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Explore the Port of Agaete – Puerto de las Nieves

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Puerto de Las Nieves is a historical port of Agaete and is located within a 30 minute walk from the towns center. Puerto de Las Nieves is a fishermen settlement which nowadays offers tourists and visitors great sea food and an opportunity to dine next to the ocean. The fishermen are still there though and head towards the open ocean almost every day.

Indeed, some of the best fish restaurants on Gran Canaria are located in the port of Agaete. Therefore the port of Agaete is getting busy over the weekend – great food next to the ocean attracts day visitors from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Puerto de Las Nieves also services a ferry harbour, with ferries operating mostly to Tenerife.

Read later: Things to Do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife With Kids – Our Day Trip Itinerary

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Join the Locals Fishing at Antiguo Muelle with the view over the Dedo de Dios

One of my favorite ways to start the day during our 2 months stay in Agaete was watching the locals fishing in the early hours at the pier of Antiguo Muelle.

From the pier you’ll have a great view over the remnants of the Dedo de Dios. The “God’s Finger” has been a symbol of Gran Canaria – a large natural rock formation resemling a pointing finger. Many artists came to Agaete to see Dedo de Dios and found it very inspiring. Unfortunately, the thin part of the formation broke off during the storm of 2005 and fell into the water.

On one side of the pier there is a small beach which gets popular on a sunny weekend days. On the other side between the harbour and the promenade there is a stoney beach, which is also popular among swimmers.

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Stroll Along the Ocean – Paseo Marítimo

One of the reasons why we enjoyed our stay in Agaete so much was that on one side you had a charming town filled with local life, and on the other – an opportunity to be close to the ocean. Not a common combination to find on Gran Canaria.

The Paseo Maritimo is a lovely promenade to stroll and enjoy the salty air and the breaking waves. The promenade starts in Puerto de las Nieves and continues all the way to the Las Salinas – the ocean pool of Agaete.

On your stroll you can check the catch of the day at the fish shop directly by the harbour. You will fin the small fish shop tucked underneath the bridge when crossing from the port onto the promenade.

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Peak inside the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves

A sweet maritime church right in the middle of the Puerto de las Nieves is worth a peak.

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Explore the Valley of Agaete – Gran Canaria’s Paradise on Earth

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What makes Agaete so special is it’s location. With ocean on the one side and a valley with fertile volcanic soil on it’s backyard, Agaete is a true gem.

When most of the Gran Canaria is growing ‘Platano Canario’ – famous Canarian bananas, it is the valley of Agaete which supplies the Canarias with fresh and delicious fruits. Juicy oranges, lemons, guavas, papayas and grapes ripen here just a 15 minute drive away from Agaete.

The valley has been also home for growing local coffee! The valley of Agaete is the only area in Europe which grows coffee plants and produces coffee! Due to it’s favourable climate and protection of the valley the coffee grows here well.

To reach the valley you need to follow the GC-231 road along the Barranco de Agaete towards El Sao. Most of the attractions located between Agaete and Los Berrazales, but most everyone comes here for the paradise views.

The valley of Agaete is also great for hiking, offering amazing views over the area and all the way onto the ocean.

Read later: 5 Great Hikes You Can Do in Gran Canaria with Kids

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Dive into the Las Salinas Natural Ocean Pool at Playa Punta Gorda

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At the northern end of the Paseo Marítimo promenade you will find natural ocean pools of Las Salinas locates right next tot he Playa Punta Gorda beach.

The beaches on the northern side of Gran Canaria are mostly stones or filled with black sand and can get very rough. The ocean pools offers a great way to enjoy a swim in the protected surrounding – an experience worth trying. This is also the area where locals spend their free time, enjoying the dives and the beach.

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Watch the Sunset and the Viewpoints of Agaete

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Agaete is located on a hill, offering breathtaking views over the ocean or over the mountains. On a good weather day you can spot the snow-capped top of Teide on Tenerife.

Our favorite spots for watching the sun go down over Gran Canaria are:

• Over the Playa Punta Gorda. If you follow the narrow path along the shore behind the Hotel&Spa Cordial Roca Negra there will be some cliffs you can place your blanket and enjoy the view.
• Another great spot for watching the sun go down is the harbour and the bars at Las Nieves Beach. They are crowded during the day, but in the evening with day tourists gone they are a lovely place saying ‘goodbye’ to another day in Agaete.

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Visit Finca Los Castaños – The Only Coffee Plantation in Europe

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We have mentioned it already, but due to it’s favourable soil and weather condition, the valley of Agaete is the only area in Europe where coffee feels itself home and grows well.

There are several coffee plantations in the area. We have visited Finca Los Castaños. It is a great place to learn about the origin and the way of growing coffee on Gran Canaria.

There are workshops, courses and a whole Coffee Academy held for everyone who loves not only to drink but to explore the coffee world.

We have been shown the coffee trees as well the whole process of picking up coffee beans to roasting them to poaring the freshly brewed coffee in a cup. A unique experience we really enjoyed.

Consider joining the coffee tasting tour.

Apart from being the only coffee producer in Europe, Finca Los Castaños premises are gorgeous! The coffee grows next to the fruit trees thus carrying the taste of guavas, oranges and lemons.

We were allowed to explore the grounds and even had a chance to taste delicious guavas from the tree.

Most of the coffee from the plantation, however, goes for export. therefore it is difficult to find a place serving the coffee from Agaete on Gran Canaria.

Nevertheless, at the time of our stay in Agaete we were able to get the coffee produced in Agaete at El Surtidor Tapas Bar (Plaza Tomás Morales, 6 Agaete) . In Las Palmas you can have the coffee from Finca Los Castaños at their coffeeshop Cafetero (Calle León y Castillo, 43 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).

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Celebrate With Locals at Fiesta de la Rama – a folk Festival of Agaete

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At the moment of writing this post, we can’t even imagine how it will be in the future and what is going to happen with the festivals not only in Agaete but all over the World.

But let’s just dream the life is back to normal again and this whole pandemic situation is over.

Fiesta de la Rama in Agaete is a folk festival, loved and celebrated by the whole island of Gran Canaria. The Rama festival is held to honour the ‘Our Lady of Snow’ – Nuestra Señora de las Nieves when the whole town dances, sings, waves with palm branches and enjoys the atmosphere.

The festival is held every year on 4 August since 1972.

In the Museum de la Rama in Agaete you can dive into the history of the festival as well as observe the large heads made out of papiermache usually carried through the streets during the festival.

Please check for the latest rules and conditions applied and try to keep yourself and the others safe!

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Visit Agaete’s Neighbourhood Villages and Towns

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Remember we told you that Agaete is a great base for your Gran Canaria adventures?!

From Agaete you can reach many charming villages within less than an hour drive (the streets are curvy thus the snail speed).

Our favorite villages to visit are:

• Sardina del Norte
• Galdar
• Guia
• Tejeda (where the Almond Blossom Festival takes place very spring)
• Arucas
• Teror

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Restaurants and Bars in Agaete – Some of the best ones on Gran Canaria

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Cruz Morales Bakery (Calle Guayarmina 1, Agaete) – is THE place to start your day. We have had breakfast here almost every day, overlooking the busy street through the open windows and chit chatting with locals. The bakery serves delicious sandwiches as well as coffee, fresh orange juice and pastry. Cruz Morales is also your go to for bread and baked goods, since bakeries in Agaete are scarce. No amenities for kids.

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El Surtidor Tapas-Bar (Plaza Tomas Morales 6, Agaete). The best part of this bar is the outside seating area right in the middle of the Tomas Moralez square in the middle of Agaete. Great for coffee and lunch – the food is simple, but fine. The prices are fair too.

El Perola is THE bar you can’t miss upon not only in Agaete, but in the whole Gran Canaria. This place looks like it hasn’t been there for ages . The family owned bar is great for a drink or two. The whole atmosphere and the friendly bar keeper Pepe is an experience on it’s own!! In the evenings Pepe’s family prepares delicious tapas. We highly recommend you visit ‘El Perola’ and if you do, say ‘hi’ from us please.

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Mi Hermano (Calle Antón Cerezo, 18 Puerto de las Nieves). One of the things we love about slow traveling is that you get to discover amazing places and make fries with locals. ‘Mi Hermano’ was our favourite place for having lunch. The family owned restaurant serves some of the best fish and local Canaria dishes on Gran Canaria. The whole family is involved in the cooking and serving process. The fish served at Mi Hermano comes directly from the Agaete harbour – always ask for the ‘daily tip’. Mi Hermano is THE restaurant if you wish to experience delicious food, Canarian hospitality and an authentic ambience.

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Restaurante Los Almácigos The restaurant is located about 6 km away from Agaete in Guyadera. The area itself is beautiful – the restaurant seating area is outside and is located within a lovely garden with the views over the ocean. Los Almácigos serves delicious food and is great for a special occasion or if you are looking for something more exquisite and unique.

Restaurante Casa Lolo (Ctra. los Berrazales, Km 3, Urb. la Suerte, Las Palmas) This retaran specialty is meat from the grill. The restaurant is located about 3 km from Agaete on the way into the Valley of Agaete. The ambience is quite authentic – with plastic chairs and a patio filled with greens and flowers. A great choice if you are looking for an alternative to the Agaete restaurants.

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Where to Stay in Agaete

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The most accommodations in Agaete are Airbnb’s. With houses or villas are the most common choice . Many locals who rent out their summer houses. There are also several hotels in the area, but we haven’t had any experience with their services.

We’d recommend you concentrate on the following areas when looking for a place to stay in Agaete:

• Urbanizacion Las Candelaria. This is the new area with no particular charm, but it offers a great selection of rentals. The location of the settlement is also great – right in the middle between the harbour (15 min walk) and the old town center (7 min walk). The area is also located a walking distance from town’s supermarket – not a common thing in Agaete.
• Av. Alfredo Kraus. The houses located on the Av. Alfredo Kraus have incredible views over the ocean and the harbour. Las Salinas Ocean pools and the promenade are also just a few steps away. However the walk to the towns center is a longer one. When staying in this area of Agaete we’d recommend you arrange your groceries in advance, since there are no spots nearby.
• The old town of Agaete. There are several charming rental within the old town – around Calle Lago. In the old town you will face difficulties with parking.

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How to get to Agaete and transport connections

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Located at the north-western point of Gran Canaria, Agaete can be reached very easily from the Las Palmas airport as well as from the islands capital – Las Palmas.

Reaching Agaete by Car

Renting a car is by far the most convenient and the fastest way to travel to Agaete from the Las Palmas Airport. All the major international and several local cars are well represented at the airport – so it is up to you to decide which one to take.

We found it very helpful, that many of the car rental companies on Gran Canaria offer children seats free of charge.

The route of about 55 km from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Airport to Agaete will take about an hour, with most traffic appearing around Las Palmas.

Agaete itself is best explored on foot. We recommend you park your car at your place and only use it for the activities outside the town.

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Reaching Agaete by Bus

Another popular way for reaching Agaete from the airport of Las Palmas is a bus. It will take you about 2 hours and the ticket costs about 5-8 Euro.

When taking a bus from the airport to Agaete you will have to change buses in Las Palmas. The airport bus takes about 16 minutes to the San Telmo station of Las Palmas. From there you will take the bus Nr. 103 going to the Puerto de las Nieves destination (about 1.5 hours). You stop in Agaete is ‘Iglesia de Agaete‘.

The bus option could be handy if you are traveling light and not planning to explore the rest of the Gran Canaria island. In any other cases we’d recommend you rent a car.

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Extra Tips for Traveling to Agaete

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Agaete is a great base for your holidays o Gran Canaria, however you need to know, that there are not so many grocery shopping options in town. there are small shops and only one supermarket on the way to the harbour –

Therefore we recommend you arrange all your major grocery shopping in the next town of Galdar. The next large supermarkets next to Agaete are Hiperdino, Mercadona and Lidl. All three supermarkets have a decent choice of childcare products.

You will also find a lovely coffeeshop serving great snacks and coffee right across the Canary Oil gas station. The name of the coffeeshop is ‘Siete Razones’ and it also has another opening in Las Palmas.

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Your Next Stop

• 5 Great Hikes You Can Do in Gran Canaria with Kids
• Gran Canaria – Almond Blossom Festival
• Things to Do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife With Kids – Our Day Trip Itinerary